When LSU designated hitter Beau Jordan grounded out to UF second baseman Deacon Liput to secure Florida baseball’s first and only national championship in 2017, Gator fans around the nation breathed a sigh of relief as their school became the first Division I program to win a national title in baseball, men’s basketball and football since 1996.
Nearly a decade later, Florida has struggled to scale the mountain and solidify itself as a consistent national championship contender. If the Gators want to rise back to national prominence in 2027, there are still areas to clean up across the diamond.
Despite a strong regular season that saw the Gators finish No. 8 nationally and host a regional, they consistently played down to their opponents' level. Florida dropped its season opener at Condron Ballpark to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, lost a weekend series to High Point in early March, suffered two losses to Jacksonville and dropped a game to Bethune-Cookman. Becoming more consistent against lesser competition will be one of the biggest keys to finding success next season.
Beyond those losses, there are several areas where Florida can improve as a team.
Offensively, the Gators produced enough power to compete with anyone, but they lacked consistency at the plate. Florida finished No. 136 nationally with a .279 batting average. With the deep dimensions at Condron Ballpark keeping many well-struck balls in play, increasing the number of hits could significantly raise the team's offensive floor.
As aforementioned, power throughout the lineup was never an issue.
The Gators launched 106 home runs, ranking No. 16 nationally and No. 7 in the SEC. With the addition of rising junior catcher Jon Embury and the increased experience of returning players like rising junior shortstop Brendan Lawson, rising junior third baseman Ethan Surowiec, rising redshirt junior two-way player Caden McDonald and rising sophomore outfielder Cash Strayer, that total could climb even higher.
Florida also put together a solid season on the mound. The pitching staff ranked No. 40 nationally with a 4.61 ERA and effectively limited free passes. Only three Gator pitchers who threw at least 20 innings posted a walk rate above 10%.
The staff will look much different next spring, though. Only six pitchers return from last season, making the rotation and bullpen more difficult to project. One addition expected to make an immediate impact is rising sophomore left-handed pitcher Trey Morris, who led all of college baseball in WHIP (0.83).
While Florida's team numbers provide optimism, several returning players have opportunities to elevate their games even further.
Surowiec had an objectively strong offensive season, batting .317 with 12 home runs, but his underlying numbers suggest even more power to unlock. The rising junior posted a 35.5% fly ball rate, with 18.8% of those fly balls leaving the yard. Conversely, his 39.2% ground ball rate limited some of his power production. Lifting the ball more consistently could lead to a significant increase in home runs.
Surowiec’s biggest area for improvement lies on the defensive side.
He finished with a .962 fielding percentage across 266 defensive chances, leaving room for improvement in the SEC. If his defense progresses, Surowiec’s draft stock could rise considerably heading into next summer.
McDonald enters 2027 with one of the most complete skill sets on the roster. His biggest area for offensive growth is his plate discipline. The Tampa native drew only eight walks while striking out 30 times, resulting in a 29.1% strikeout rate compared to a 7.8% walk rate.
Ironically, those numbers look much different on the mound. As a pitcher, McDonald struck out hitters at a 26.2% rate while walking only 4.4%, showcasing the command that has become one of his strengths.
Florida's bullpen also features pitchers capable of taking a leap in 2027.
Rising redshirt sophomore Joshua Whritenour emerged as the Gators' closer, armed with a fastball that reaches over 100 mph and a wipeout slider. Despite that electric arsenal, he finished with a 5.40 ERA, due in part to his inability to consistently generate ground balls. Whritenour posted a 33% ground ball rate, the lowest on the team among pitchers with at least 20 innings, while his 47.3% fly ball rate was the highest. Reducing the number of balls hit in the air could go a long way toward improving his results in 2027.
Another reliever with upside is rising redshirt sophomore Schuyler Sandford.
Sandford flashed potential throughout the season, but cutting down on walks will be key to earning a larger role. The Jacksonville native recorded a 13.5% walk rate, the highest on the team among pitchers who threw at least 20 innings.
Lawson, meanwhile, is one of the toughest players on the roster to critique.
Offensively, the Canadian put together one of the nation's best seasons, finishing with a 1.210 OPS, 222 points higher than the next-best qualified Florida hitter and recent New York Yankees draft pick Blake Cyr.
Like Surowiec, Lawson’s biggest challenge came defensively.
The rising junior posted a .922 fielding percentage at shortstop in 2026, although he noticeably improved as the season progressed. Over the final 14 games, he committed just one error in 59 chances. Considering he began his Florida career at first base and spent much of last fall working at third before moving to shortstop shortly before the season, Lawson’s improvement late in the year was notable. If he continues to develop defensively and expands his range, the power-hitting shortstop could position himself as the undisputed No. 1 overall pick next summer.
Strayer is also poised for a larger role.
The Cape Cod All-Star returning to the Gators posted an .822 OPS in limited action as a freshman, and the underlying numbers suggest improvement is possible. Strayer recorded a 43% fly ball rate while posting just a 5.1% pop-up rate. However, only 11.8% of those fly balls resulted in home runs. If the Tampa native adds strength while maintaining the same approach, his power numbers could take a significant jump.
Florida enters 2027 with a talented returning core and plenty of reasons for optimism. Even so, consistency against lesser opponents, improved defense and continued player development will go a long way in determining whether the Gators can turn another successful season into a championship run.
Contact Colton Veres at cveres@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @colton_veres.
Colton Veres is a senior sports journalism student in his first semester at The Alligator. He is currently the Summer 2026 baseball reporter. In his free time he enjoys watching the Red Sox and spending times with friends and loved ones.
